Holding Device for Rolled Body, Method of Storing Rolled Body, and Method of Containing Rolled Body

ABSTRACT

Even in case a rolled body is stored in a state of being suspended without containing it in a corrugated cardboard box and the like, a leg piece that is fixed in a manner protruded out of a plate-like member can stably keep a holding device for the rolled body relative to a surface of placement in an erected posture. The holding device can prevent the rolled body from easily getting out of position due to swinging and rolling movements. The rolled body can be stored in a corrugated cardboard box while a pair of holding devices remain mounted on the rolled body. In case corrugated cardboard boxes are stored by holding them in a stacked manner, or are transported, the corrugated cardboard boxes can be made harder to get damaged. 
     A holding device is adapted to hold in position a rolled body made up by winding a web. The holding device is attached to each of both longitudinal ends of the rolled body so as to hold a rolled body surface in a state suspended away from a surface of placement thereof. The holding device has: a plate-like member having a lower side in contact with the surface of placement of the rolled body; and at least one leg piece which is attached only to the lower side so as to protrude inward, in an elongated direction, of the rolled body.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

This invention relates to a holding device adapted to hold in position a rolled body made up by winding a continuous thin film-like material (hereinafter referred to as “web”), the holding device being respectively attached to each of longitudinal ends of the rolled body so as to hold a rolled body surface in a state suspended out of contact with a surface of placement. It also relates to a method of storing a rolled body, and also relates to a method of containing a rolled body, both methods by using the holding device.

2. Related Art

This kind of holding device is known in patent document, e.g., JP-2005-35646 A. The conventional holding device has a plate-like member with a square outline. In the center of the plate-like member there is attached a cylindrical projection in a manner to be elongated in a direction at right angles to the surface of the plate member. In holding a rolled body, which is made up by winding a web around a winding core, by means of a pair of holding devices of this kind, each of the holding devices is attached to respective longitudinal ends of the winding core so that the cylindrical projections are inserted into the winding core. In order for the plate-like member to take a posture erected (or upright) on the surface of placement, the plate-like member is caused to rest on the surface of placement with one side (bottom side) of the plate-like member being in contact with the surface of placement. According to this arrangement, the winding core is fixed by the cylindrical projections so that the body surface of the rolled body is held in a state of being away from (i.e., out of contact with) the surface of placement.

In case the rolled body is kept stored in the above-mentioned state, the rolled body will be held on the surface of placement such as of a floor, desk, and the like only by the lower sides of the plate-like members. Both external sides of the plate-like members are spaces without restriction. Therefore, when the surface of placement is subjected to rolling, etc. the cylindrical projection will easily be dropped out of position of the winding core onto the surface of placement. As a result, the body surface will get stained or be subjected to scratches. In the position corresponding to the body surface which is in contact with the surface of placement, there will be left, over a number of rotations, pressure marks due to the weight of the roll.

By the way, in case the rolled body is stored or transported without adhesion of dirt or dust to the body surface, a rolled body will be contained in a corrugated cardboard box with a closing lid while leaving the pair of holding devices to remain attached. Under the circumstances, the above-mentioned conventional holding devices have the following disadvantage, namely in that: when the holding devices hold the rolled body, the load of this rolled body is received only by the lower sides of the plate-like members of both the holding devices; and therefore that, depending on the weight of the rolled body, that part of the corrugated cardboard box which corresponds to the lower side to receive the load transmitted from the lower side of the plate-like body, is likely to be damaged. This phenomenon becomes more conspicuous when a plurality of corrugated cardboard boxes each containing therein a rolled body having equivalent roll lengths are held in stack (i.e., one on top of another).

Further, in case a rolled body is contained in a corrugated cardboard box with a closing lid serving as a container box, with a pair of holding devices being attached to the rolled body, when there is a clearance between the plate-like body and the inner surface of the corrugated cardboard box, deviations will happen between the winding core and the cylindrical projections when the rolled body is subjected to vibrations during transportation. As a result, the rolled body will be stricken out of balance due to the load of the rolled body, and the plate-like members will be inclined from the erected posture. Disadvantage will happen in that the cylindrical projections will be pulled out of position and, consequently, the body surface of the rolled body will come into contact with the inner surface of the corrugated cardboard box. In such a case, the clearances between the plate-like bodies and the inner surfaces of the corrugated cardboard box may be minimized to the extent possible. This, however, will make it remarkably troublesome to put the rolled body into, and to take it out of, the corrugated cardboard box.

SUMMARY Problems to be Solved

In view of the above points, this invention has a problem in providing a holding device for use in a rolled body, a method of storing a rolled body, and a method of containing a rolled body, in which: when a rolled body is stored in a suspended state without containing it in a corrugated cardboard box or the like, leg pieces attached in a protruded manner out of the plate-like member can stably maintain the erected posture; the rolled body can be prevented from getting simply pulled out of position when swung; further the rolled body can be stored in the corrugated cardboard box or the like while the pair of holding devices remain fixed to the rolled body or the like; even in case corrugated cardboard boxes are stacked or transported, the corrugated cardboard boxes can hardly be damaged.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to solve the above problems, this invention is a holding device adapted to hold in position a rolled body made up by winding a web, the holding device being respectively attached to each of longitudinal ends of the rolled body so as to hold a rolled body surface in a state suspended out of contact with a surface of placement. The holding device comprises: a plate-like member having a lower side which comes into contact with the surface of placement; and at least one leg piece that is attached only to the lower side of the plate-like member in a manner to protrude inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, this invention is a method of storing a rolled body by using a pair of holding devices, each of the holding devices comprising: a plate-like member having a lower side which comes into contact with a surface of placement; at least one leg piece that is attached only to the lower side of the plate-like member in a manner to protrude inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body which is made up by winding a web; and a fixing member which is attached to the plate-like member so as to fix in position an end portion of the rolled body. The method comprises the steps of: attaching the holding devices to the rolled body such that both the longitudinal ends of the rolled body are fixed in position by the fixing members in a state in which the leg pieces look inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body; and placing each of the plate-like members such that the lower side of the plate-like member and the leg pieces are brought into contact with the surface of placement, thereby keeping a body surface of the rolled body in a state suspended out of contact with the surface of placement.

Still furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, this invention is a method of containing a rolled body into a container box by using a pair of holding devices, each of the holding devices comprising: a plate-like member having a lower side which comes into contact with a surface of placement; at least one leg piece that is attached only to the lower side of the plate-like member in a manner to protrude inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body which is made up by winding a web; and a fixing member which is attached to the plate-like member so as to fix in position an end portion of the rolled body. The method comprises the steps of: attaching the holding devices to the rolled body such that both the longitudinal ends of the rolled body are fixed in position by the fixing members in a state in which the leg pieces look inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body; and, supposing that a use is made, as the container box, of one having a rectangular side surface of internal dimensions equivalent to external dimensions of the plate-like member, and that a bottom of the container box is defined as a surface of placement, containing the rolled body into the container box such that the lower side of the plate-like member and the leg piece come into contact with the surface of placement, thereby making the body surface of the rolled body in a state suspended out of contact with the surface of placement. In this invention, the term “equivalent” does not mean that the external dimensions of the plate-like member are in strict coincidence with the internal dimensions of the container box. Instead, it should be understood to mean that the internal dimensions of the container box are slightly larger than the external dimensions of the plate-like member in order to secure a small clearance so as to facilitate the work of placing the rolled body into, or out of, the container box.

According to this invention, in a state in which the rolled body is held in a suspended state while keeping the body surface of the rolled body away from the surface of placement by means of a pair of fixing members, the load of the rolled body can be received not only by the lower side of the plate-like member but also by the leg pieces. Therefore, also in case the rolled body is stored in a suspended manner without containing it inside the corrugated cardboard box or the like as a container box, the rolled body can maintain its erected state stably relative to the surface of placement thanks to the leg pieces that are protruded from the plate-like member. The rolled body can also be easily prevented from getting pulled out of position against rolling and swinging movements. Further, it is also possible to store a rolled body in a corrugated cardboard box or the like in a state in which a pair of holding devices remain mounted on the rolled body. In case the rolled body is stored or accommodated into a corrugated cardboard box in a state in which the pair of fixing members remain mounted on the rolled body, and the container is stacked on another box or is transported, the corrugated cardboard box can be made harder to be damaged. Further, like in the example of the above-mentioned conventional art, in case the fixing member is constituted by a cylindrical projection, even though the rolled body is subjected to vibrations during transportation, there will be no such disadvantages as the body surface of the rolled body's coming into contact with the inner surface of the corrugated cardboard box or the like because the plate-like member is maintained in an erected posture by means of the leg pieces. Furthermore, since there is leg piece not on the upper side of the plate-like member but on the lower side thereof, when the web is pulled out of the rolled body contained in the corrugated cardboard box, there is no possibility: of the web's hitting the leg pieces; of the web's getting hindered from smoothly taking out of the rolled body; and of the web's getting scarred with scratches. In addition, despite the vibrations at the time of taking out the web, the leg pieces will help the plate-like member maintain the erected posture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holding device for a rolled body according to an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to explain a method of storing and a method of containing a rolled body according to an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the holding device in a state in which the rolled body is contained in a corrugated cardboard box.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, description will be made of a holding device adapted to hold in position a rolled body, made up by winding a web according to an embodiment of this invention. Reference is made to an example in which the holding device is attached to respective longitudinal ends of the rolled body so as to hold a rolled body surface in a state suspended out of contact with a surface of placement.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a holding device for holding a rolled body. The holding device 1 is provided with: a plate-like member 11 having a lower side 10 which comes into contact with a surface of placement Sm; a fixing member 12 which is fixed so as to be elongated in a manner to protrude at right angles to a plate surface in the central part of the plate-like member 11; at least one (two in this embodiment) leg piece 13 which is attached only to the lower side 10 of the plate-like member 11 so as to be elongated inward. In case the leg piece that is attached to the lower side 10 is only one in number, it is preferable to fix it substantially in the center of the lower side 10. In this case, the width of the leg piece may be set in order for the plate-like member 11 to be maintained in an upright (or erected) posture.

As the material for the plate-like member 11, fixing member 12 and the leg pieces 13, it is preferable to make them in thermoplastic resin out of consideration of durability. As the thermoplastic resin, selection may be made out of, e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polystyrene, acrylic resin, silicone resin, and fluorine resin. The plate-like member 11 shall, preferably, be rectangular (substantially square according to this embodiment) in shape, but is not necessarily limited to the above as long as it has the lower side 10 which comes into contact with the surface of placement Sm. It may, therefore, be semicircular, trapezoidal, triangular, and the like, and the lower side 10 may be partly formed into a corrugated shape or a saw-tooth shape. The plate-like member 11 may have a thickness that is set to a range of, e.g., 0.3 mm to 20 mm in view of the mechanical strength, etc. of the plate-like member 11, most preferably 0.5 mm to 10 mm. If the thickness is below 0.3 mm, there will be a shortage in stability required to maintain the erected posture, or shortage in the strength to withstand the impact due to swinging or external pressure. On the other hand, if the thickness is above 20 mm, not only will the cost increase, but also will the weight increase, thereby bringing about a disadvantage in transportation. The plate-like member 11 has formed therein a plurality of lightening holes 11 a that penetrate in the thickness direction of the plate-like member. It is thus so arranged that the holding device 1 is reduced in weight and, at the same time, when an external pressure is applied, that the pressure is dispersed, thereby increasing the strength against the shocks to be absorbed.

The fixing member 12 has a diameter that is suitable for insertion into the winding core 20 of the rolled body 2. By inserting the fixing member 12 into the winding core 20, the rolled body 2 is fixed to the fixing member 12. By reducing the diameter of the fixing member 12 toward the front end thereof, the fixing member 12 is made easier to be inserted into the winding core 20. By the way, while the fixing member 12 shall preferably be formed integrally with the plate-like member 11, it may alternatively be formed separately. By making the external diameter of the fixing member 12 substantially equal to the internal diameter of the winding core 20 of the rolled body 2, it is preferable for the rolled body 2 to be stably fixed in position without wobbling. The length of protrusion of the fixing member 12 beyond the plate-like member 11 shall preferably be 10 mm to 100 mm, particularly preferably between 20 mm to 50 mm. If the length of protrusion is below 10 mm, the winding core 20 is likely to be pulled out of position due to lateral vibrations, sometimes leading to lack in erected stability (i.e., stability in the erected posture). If the length of protrusion is above 100 mm, the cost and weight will increase, or the fixing member 12 sometimes gets harder to be inserted into the winding core 20.

The sectional shape of the leg piece 13 is not particularly limited, but may be triangular, rectangular, circular or elliptical. By making the leg piece 13 into triangular in sectional shape as shown in the embodiment of this invention, a rolled body 2 of a larger roll diameter can advantageously be held in position. In addition, in case the leg piece 13 is formed into triangular in sectional shape, the strength of the holding device 1 can be increased by chamfering the corners of the leg piece 13. The length in which the leg piece 13 protrudes beyond the plate-like member 11 shall preferably be 10 mm to 100 mm, most preferably be 20 mm to 70 mm. If the protrusion is less than 10 mm, there is a possibility that the erected stability against the rolling movement may not be sufficient. If it exceeds 100 mm, on the other hand, there is a possibility that the cost and weight of the holding device 1 will increase or at the time of fixing the rolled body 2 in position, the leg piece 13 may hit the body surface 21.

Next, description will be made of a method of storing and a method of containing the rolled body 2 by using the above-mentioned holding device 1 with reference to an example of containing the rolled body 2 into a corrugated cardboard box 3 with a closing lid (not illustrated).

The fixing member 12 is each inserted into the winding core 20 of the rolled body 2 in a state in which the leg pieces 13 of a pair of holding devices 1 are in a posture looking toward the inside, as seen in the longitudinal direction, of the rolled body 2. The holding devices 1 are thus mounted in such a manner that both longitudinal ends of the rolled body 2 are fixed in position by the respective fixing members 12 (see FIG. 2). Then, by placing thus obtained assembly of the rolled body 2 with the pair of holding devices 1 onto the surface of placement Sm of a floor, a desk, and the like such that the lower sides 10 of the plate-like members 11 and the leg pieces 13 are brought into contact with the surface of placement Sm, the body surface 21 of the rolled body 2 can be made into a suspended state out of contact with the surface of placement Sm. In this manner, the body surface 21 can be prevented from coming into contact with, thereby getting damaged by, the surface of placement Sm.

The rolled body 2 is contained inside the corrugated cardboard box 3 while the pair of holding devices 1 remain mounted on the rolled body 2 such that the leg pieces 13 are in contact with the inner bottom surface of the corrugated cardboard box 3. In this manner, by using the holding devices 1 of this invention, the web can be pulled out in a state in which it remains contained in the corrugated cardboard box 3. As the corrugated cardboard box 3, there may be used one made not only of paper but also of plastic. Further, as the corrugated cardboard box 3, it is preferable to use one having rectangular side surfaces (i.e., on both longitudinal ends as seen in an elongated direction of the rolled body) cut to fixed dimensions equivalent to external dimensions of the plate-like member 11. The term “equivalent” does not mean that the external dimensions of the plate-like member 11 are in strict coincidence with the internal dimensions of the corrugated cardboard box 3. Instead, it should be understood to mean that the internal dimensions of the corrugated cardboard box 3 are slightly larger in order to secure a minimum clearance d1 that is required to facilitate the job of placing the rolled body 2 into, or out of, the corrugated cardboard box 3 (see FIG. 3). Still furthermore, similarly, the internal dimensions in the length direction of the corrugated cardboard box 3 shall preferably be set such that a minimum clearance d2 is present in order to facilitate the job of placing the rolled body 2 into, or out of, the corrugated cardboard box 3 (see FIG. 4).

As described hereinabove, according to this embodiment, in a state in which the rolled body 2 is held in a suspended state while keeping the body surface 21 of the rolled body 2 away from (i.e., out of contact with) the surface of placement Sm by means of the pair of fixing members 1, the load of the rolled body 2 can be carried not only by the lower sides 10 of the plate-like members 11 but also by the leg pieces 13. Therefore, the rolled body can be stored in the corrugated cardboard box 3 in a state in which the pair of holding devices 1 are left attached to the rolled body 2. Therefore, even in case the corrugated cardboard boxes 3 are stacked one on top of another, or are transported, the corrugated cardboard boxes 3 can be made harder to be damaged. Further, when the fixing members 12 are constituted by projecting pieces like in the above-mentioned known art, despite the presence of clearances d1, d2 between the plate-like members 11 and the internal surfaces of the corrugated cardboard box 3, the projecting pieces will not be partly pulled out of position off the winding cores 20 even under the influence of vibrations to be subjected to the rolled body 2. As a result, the plate-like member 11 can be maintained in the erected posture without giving rise to the disadvantage in that the body surface 21 of the rolled body 2 comes to be in contact with the internal surface of the corrugated cardboard box 3.

Taking into account the fact that the corrugated cardboard boxes 3 are held in stack (i.e., one on top of another) with a rolled body 2 contained in each of them, it may in one aspect be advantageous, from the viewpoint of strength, that the leg pieces are present also on the upper side of the plate-like member 11. However, such an arrangement may have a problem in that the job of taking out the web will be hindered or that the web may be damaged (scratched) upon contact with the leg pieces in question at the time of taking out the web. In this embodiment, on the other hand, since the leg pieces 13 are attached only to the lower sides 10 of the plate-like members 11, there is no possibility that the web will be hindered in taking out the web or that the web will get scratched upon contact with the leg pieces in question. In addition, at the time, e.g., of taking out the web from the rolled body 2 contained in the corrugated cardboard box 3, the job of taking out the web will not be hindered and, even under the influence of vibrations on the occasion of taking out the web, the plate-like members 11 can still be maintained in the erected posture by the leg pieces 13. Further, even in case the rolled body 2 is placed on the floor (surface of placement) without containing it in a corrugated cardboard box 3 so that the web is taken out, the leg pieces 13 will help the plate-like members 11 maintained in the erected posture and the plate-like member 11 will not fall.

By the way, this invention shall not be limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments, an explanation was made on the basis of an example in which the fixing member 12 was formed by a tubular protruded piece. A closing lid may be attached to the tubular front end. The inside of the fixing member 12 need not be of a hollow construction, but may be of a solid construction such as by filling the inside with resin and the like. The fixing member 12 need not be limited to the shape as noted, but may be of a construction in which the opening formed in the center of the plate-like member 11 may serve as the fixing member. In this case, by arranging that both those ends of the winding core 20 which are protruded beyond the roll end surface are inserted into the said opening, the rolled body 2 is fixed on longitudinal both ends. In addition, it may be so arranged that a bar-like body is inserted into the opening in one of the plate-like members 11 and that this bar-like body is inserted from the opening of one plate-like member 11. The front end of the other of the bar-like body is inserted into the opening of the winding core 20. Thereafter, the front end of this bar-like body is inserted into the opening of the other plate-like member 11, so that the rolled body 2 may be fixed in position.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the leg pieces 13 are protruded respectively from both ends of the lower side 10. Alternatively, the leg pieces 13 may be protruded from slightly inner portions than both the ends of the leg pieces 13.

In the above embodiment, thermoplastic resin was used as the material for the plate-like member 11. In view of the weight of the rolled body 2 and the strength of the fixing member 1, the following material may also be used, i.e., rubber (e.g., butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene block copolymer), metal (e.g., iron, copper, stainless steel), wood, paper board, cardboard and the like.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE MARKS

-   Sm surface of placement -   1 holding device -   10 lower side -   11 plate-like member -   12 fixing member -   13 leg piece -   2 rolled body -   20 winding core -   21 body surface -   3 corrugated cardboard box (container box) 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holding device adapted to hold in position a rolled body made up by winding a web, the holding device being respectively attached to each of longitudinal ends of the rolled body so as to hold a rolled body surface in a state suspended out of contact with a surface of placement, the holding device comprising: a plate-like member having a lower side which comes into contact with the surface of placement; and at least one leg piece that is attached only to the lower side of the plate-like member in a manner to protrude inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body.
 2. A method of storing a rolled body by using a pair of holding devices, each of the holding devices comprising: a plate-like member having a lower side which comes into contact with a surface of placement; at least one leg piece that is attached only to the lower side of the plate-like member in a manner to protrude inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body which is made up by winding a web; and a fixing member which is attached to the plate-like member so as to fix in position an end portion of the rolled body, the method comprising the steps of: attaching the holding devices to the rolled body such that both the longitudinal ends of the rolled body are fixed in position by the fixing members in a state in which the leg pieces look inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body; and placing each of the plate-like members such that the lower side of the plate-like member and the leg pieces are brought into contact with the surface of placement, thereby keeping a body surface of the rolled body in a state suspended out of contact with the surface of placement.
 3. A method of containing a rolled body into a container box by using a pair of holding devices, each of the holding devices comprising: a plate-like member having a lower side which comes into contact with a surface of placement; at least one leg piece that is attached only to the lower side of the plate-like member in a manner to protrude inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body which is made up by winding a web; and a fixing member which is attached to the plate-like member so as to fix in position an end portion of the rolled body, the method comprising the steps of: attaching the holding devices to the rolled body such that both the longitudinal ends of the rolled body are fixed in position by the fixing members in a state in which the leg pieces look inward in an elongated direction of the rolled body; and supposing that a use is made, as the container box, of one having a rectangular side surface of internal dimensions equivalent to external dimensions of the plate-like member, and that a bottom of the container box is defined as a surface of placement, containing the rolled body into the container box such that the lower side of the plate-like member and the leg piece come into contact with the surface of placement, thereby making the body surface of the rolled body in a state suspended out of contact with the surface of placement. 